Hey Y'all!
Sorry for the long absence... but I have been nursing a serious sickness since last Sunday. I started to really feel bad Sunday night, and then on Monday the dreaded cough set in. I am sure you know the one and have heard it all around you by now. The one where you fear the person has some communicable disease from a third world country. Where you just know, any second, the sick person is going to cough up a lung. The good part is, then you loose your voice so you no longer have to apologize for sounding like you have the plague. I started to scare my students by Thursday, so I took Friday off and slept the whole weekend. By yesterday, I started to feel human again. Today I went to school and made it through the day, although, I am about to fall into bed, I am soooo tired. I had 3 kids out with what I had today, so I hope they heal faster than I did!
I also spent the weekend working on my Teacher of the Year packet. I love to write folks, but 14 pages about myself is about to do me in!!! I have two more sections to go and then I am done. I wish the writing fairies would come and finish it for me! I guess I should really check my writing though.. I have been on some pretty powerful cough syrup. So, I may think I wrote like a genius.. but really didn't!
This week the kids are dismissed at 12 on Friday (I see a margarita in my future.. My Teacher of the Year packet will be turned in by then!) We have a long weekend with no school Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Then on Tuesday, no school for the kiddies and an in service day for us. So next week will be a short one as well.
Hopefully I will still have both lungs by then and have not contracted any other illness!!
:) JKP
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
O Customer Service, Customer Service Wherefore Art Thou?
Hey Y'all!
Hmmm... well as you can see from the title this little entry is going to be me standing on a soapbox for a minute or two! You know, I have noticed a downturn of politeness and manners in this country for some time. Some may argue that since our society is more technologically advanced these days... our young and not so young are no longer practicing the fine art of manners and politeness. Y'all, it is not hard! I teach my students to say "please" and "thank you." I have also taught them the art of writing thank you notes. But, I can only do so much! What ever happened to being kind to one another? We are so downright pushy and rude these days. Thank God I am a Southerner, or else I might have had to write this entry sooner!
Today I ventured out for just a little bit. My Philosophy makeup is running low and I have considered switching to another brand. Not because I am unhappy, I am just curious and wanted to see if another brand had more coverage for these dark circles that I can never seem to get rid of, baring Spackle every day! I first stopped at Ulta. No, I am not going to link to them. I am going on a tirade! When I first entered the store about 4 sales folk were just standing around. None of them greeted me, NADA. I browsed around the makeup section for about 15 minutes... and no one, no one offered to help me. Folks, it was 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. The store was empty. Tumbleweed empty! I finally asked a little sales girl for some help and she told me she would find someone after rolling her eyes. Ok, at this point, I was like, I am so going to Sephora. But, the little girl could have been having a bad day, so I hung in there. After TEN more minutes of waiting, the supposed helper comes over. I start asking her questions and she really doesn't want to answer them. She doesn't even offer to let me try on the product I am asking about. Ok, ULTA lost a big sale from me today!
So, I leave this rude store and go to Sephora. I have a long and deep love for Sephora. It goes back to my early Philosophy days and my traveling days. I love visiting Sephora, but it is always very busy and sometimes it's hard to get personalized help. So, I stroll into Sephora. I am greeted right off the bat. I start looking around and low and behold, the sales lady asks me would I like to try anything.... OF COURSE! Y'all, she sets me up with everything. First she compared how my Philosophy looked on me and then we tried the products that I was considering. Y'all. She did everything! She even introduced me to a fantastic concealer that can hide even my dark circles! The cool thing is... she told me not to buy anything today (OK, here's a tip, I wasn't going to, this was a research trip) AND she gave me samples of EVERYTHING!! She told me to compare the different brands for a few days and then make a decision. How freakin' awesome is that! I still haven't made a decision and it by the looks of it, I won't have to for a few more weeks. But I can tell you this, for any beauty product or advice you need, run to Sephora!!!
And yes, I did send an email to Ulta's headquarters letting them know what a stellar job the Myrtle Beach store did at running off this customer. I am envisioning a Julia Robert's moment one of these days when I walk in and say "You, You work on commission don't you? Big Mistake. Huge. " And of course, I will be looking totally awesome in my makeup from SEPHORA! Hee!
:) JKP
Hmmm... well as you can see from the title this little entry is going to be me standing on a soapbox for a minute or two! You know, I have noticed a downturn of politeness and manners in this country for some time. Some may argue that since our society is more technologically advanced these days... our young and not so young are no longer practicing the fine art of manners and politeness. Y'all, it is not hard! I teach my students to say "please" and "thank you." I have also taught them the art of writing thank you notes. But, I can only do so much! What ever happened to being kind to one another? We are so downright pushy and rude these days. Thank God I am a Southerner, or else I might have had to write this entry sooner!
Today I ventured out for just a little bit. My Philosophy makeup is running low and I have considered switching to another brand. Not because I am unhappy, I am just curious and wanted to see if another brand had more coverage for these dark circles that I can never seem to get rid of, baring Spackle every day! I first stopped at Ulta. No, I am not going to link to them. I am going on a tirade! When I first entered the store about 4 sales folk were just standing around. None of them greeted me, NADA. I browsed around the makeup section for about 15 minutes... and no one, no one offered to help me. Folks, it was 12:30 on a Sunday afternoon. The store was empty. Tumbleweed empty! I finally asked a little sales girl for some help and she told me she would find someone after rolling her eyes. Ok, at this point, I was like, I am so going to Sephora. But, the little girl could have been having a bad day, so I hung in there. After TEN more minutes of waiting, the supposed helper comes over. I start asking her questions and she really doesn't want to answer them. She doesn't even offer to let me try on the product I am asking about. Ok, ULTA lost a big sale from me today!
So, I leave this rude store and go to Sephora. I have a long and deep love for Sephora. It goes back to my early Philosophy days and my traveling days. I love visiting Sephora, but it is always very busy and sometimes it's hard to get personalized help. So, I stroll into Sephora. I am greeted right off the bat. I start looking around and low and behold, the sales lady asks me would I like to try anything.... OF COURSE! Y'all, she sets me up with everything. First she compared how my Philosophy looked on me and then we tried the products that I was considering. Y'all. She did everything! She even introduced me to a fantastic concealer that can hide even my dark circles! The cool thing is... she told me not to buy anything today (OK, here's a tip, I wasn't going to, this was a research trip) AND she gave me samples of EVERYTHING!! She told me to compare the different brands for a few days and then make a decision. How freakin' awesome is that! I still haven't made a decision and it by the looks of it, I won't have to for a few more weeks. But I can tell you this, for any beauty product or advice you need, run to Sephora!!!
And yes, I did send an email to Ulta's headquarters letting them know what a stellar job the Myrtle Beach store did at running off this customer. I am envisioning a Julia Robert's moment one of these days when I walk in and say "You, You work on commission don't you? Big Mistake. Huge. " And of course, I will be looking totally awesome in my makeup from SEPHORA! Hee!
:) JKP
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy 2009!
Hey Y'all!
Well, 2009 is finally here! Zorro and I rung in the new year snuggled under the covers. We watched the festivities on CNN and then watched some movies. For some strange reason, I couldn't sleep! Finally about 4 am New Year's Day I fell asleep. I guess I kept thinking I had to get up and go to school!
Today, I did have to get up and go to school. It was a work day for teachers and a very productive day for me! I got my lesson plans finished for the next couple of weeks and all of my copies made too. So, I guess you could say I am ready for the kiddies on Monday. This weekend I have to tackle my Teacher of the Year packet that goes to the district. It's basically a 15 page nightmare where I have to explain my reason for being a teacher, what interests me in the area of teaching (technology for sure!) etc, etc. I love to write... but it is so hard when it is something like this. Oh well... I am sure that Zorro will give me lots of support. Yeah. Right!
Anyhoo... lot's of folks out there are making resolutions for the new year. I am a list making kind of girl, but for some reason, I don't really have any resolutions per say this year. I think the one thing I really want to work on is being more "present" everyday. Since my friend Joy died, almost five years ago... I haven't been my normal self with being "present" at all times. Sometimes it is just easier to shut myself off. I think since all of that happened I have also been waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I have to stop doing that. I have realized that all of this may not be a good and it is something I am going to work on this year. Zorro says it is fine with him as long as he gets more walks out of the deal. Hee.
Alrighty, I am going to chill. I am tired after my day of hard work! Zorro is already on the sofa under the warming blanket and I am going to join him.
Toodles!
:) JKP
p.s. My good friend Marie just started a blog today! Check her out at www.keepingupwithmarie.blogspot.com
Well, 2009 is finally here! Zorro and I rung in the new year snuggled under the covers. We watched the festivities on CNN and then watched some movies. For some strange reason, I couldn't sleep! Finally about 4 am New Year's Day I fell asleep. I guess I kept thinking I had to get up and go to school!
Today, I did have to get up and go to school. It was a work day for teachers and a very productive day for me! I got my lesson plans finished for the next couple of weeks and all of my copies made too. So, I guess you could say I am ready for the kiddies on Monday. This weekend I have to tackle my Teacher of the Year packet that goes to the district. It's basically a 15 page nightmare where I have to explain my reason for being a teacher, what interests me in the area of teaching (technology for sure!) etc, etc. I love to write... but it is so hard when it is something like this. Oh well... I am sure that Zorro will give me lots of support. Yeah. Right!
Anyhoo... lot's of folks out there are making resolutions for the new year. I am a list making kind of girl, but for some reason, I don't really have any resolutions per say this year. I think the one thing I really want to work on is being more "present" everyday. Since my friend Joy died, almost five years ago... I haven't been my normal self with being "present" at all times. Sometimes it is just easier to shut myself off. I think since all of that happened I have also been waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I have to stop doing that. I have realized that all of this may not be a good and it is something I am going to work on this year. Zorro says it is fine with him as long as he gets more walks out of the deal. Hee.
Alrighty, I am going to chill. I am tired after my day of hard work! Zorro is already on the sofa under the warming blanket and I am going to join him.
Toodles!
:) JKP
p.s. My good friend Marie just started a blog today! Check her out at www.keepingupwithmarie.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Is it Just Me, or Does Today Feel Like the Longest Day of the Year?
Hey Y'all!
I know that some of you out there are getting ready for a New Year's shingdig. New Year's is really not my thing. I don't like to be on the roads with the crazy drunken people or at a large party. I usually hang out at home, cook a yummy dinner, and watch Kathy Griffin try not to out Anderson Cooper on CNN. A good time is usually had by all!
For those of you who are going to a dinner party tonight or making a yummy fest tomorrow.. I bring you one of my favorite recipes to end the year with!
1 bag of Oreos, 1 can of condensed milk and 1 bag of white chocolate chip morsels. (Hello, ONLY 3 ingredients for this recipe!)
Pour out two thirds of the condensed milk into a sauce pan. Make sure the heat is on "medium to low." We don't want to burn the fudge! Add white morsels and begin to stir. You can add the morsels first and then the condensed milk. It's fine either way.
Well, I hope you are enjoying our extra long day today. If you didn't already know, some government thingie somewhere decided that we needed to add an extra second to 2008 to catch up with the Earths axis and it's spin. Whatever. So if today seems like a really LOOONNNG day, now you know why!
I know that some of you out there are getting ready for a New Year's shingdig. New Year's is really not my thing. I don't like to be on the roads with the crazy drunken people or at a large party. I usually hang out at home, cook a yummy dinner, and watch Kathy Griffin try not to out Anderson Cooper on CNN. A good time is usually had by all!
For those of you who are going to a dinner party tonight or making a yummy fest tomorrow.. I bring you one of my favorite recipes to end the year with!
Julia Goolia's Yummy in the Tummy, Anyone Can Make This Oreo Fudge
You will need the following...
1 bag of Oreos, 1 can of condensed milk and 1 bag of white chocolate chip morsels. (Hello, ONLY 3 ingredients for this recipe!)
Pour out two thirds of the condensed milk into a sauce pan. Make sure the heat is on "medium to low." We don't want to burn the fudge! Add white morsels and begin to stir. You can add the morsels first and then the condensed milk. It's fine either way.
Then stir until melted into yummy goodness.
Then, take the yummy, melted goodness off of the burner. In a Ziploc bag, add about two thirds of the Oreos in the package. Crush them. Then mix them in to your white morsel and condensed milk melted goodness. Mix well and place in an 11 in by 8 in pan.
Then, put in the fridge to cool for 2-3 hours. Then cut into bite sized pieces, place on a pretty serving dish and you are the life of the PARTY!!!
(The contents of my fridge. Health conscious these days, I am not!)
I hope y'all have a Happy New Year!
:) JKP
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
We're Gettin' Fancy Around Here!
Hey Y'all!
Well, you as you can still tell, I have LOTS of time on my hands! I thought I would tinker around with the ol' blog a bit and see if I couldn't make it a little snazzier and sassier. I use a basic blogger template, but I wanted a little bit more of me on here, so I made my own banner. I may do a few more things, but for now I am happy! Of course, all of this was done with major complaining from Zorro. In fact, he is under my desk right now making all kinds of complaining noises. He also just passed a large amount of gas and I may have to evacuate this room in just a minute. Nope. My man does not play around when he wants your attention! I think I should write a children's book and call it "Zorro, the Dog Who Can Fart at Will." I think my third graders would love it! I'll be right back, I need to run and get some fresh air.
Can y'all believe that tomorrow is New Year's Eve? I was thinking about this past year in the shower this morning and all that has changed. It has been a wild year, one that I am glad to say goodbye to! I have had some good things happen this year (Technology in Teaching Award, Teacher of the Year, starting this new blog and saying goodbye to my old one) and not so good things (my tummy, BUT it's better!). I have a feeling there are lots of folks out there who are ready for this year to end. With all that is happening in the economy and Middle East right now, I think we should just all take a moment and see peaceful thoughts out into the world. We do have some exciting changes to look forward to.. a new president and hopefully a more stable economy. So overall, I am hopeful about the new year.
Well, let me run. Zorro is taking aim again... I'll try and post later...
:) JKP
Well, you as you can still tell, I have LOTS of time on my hands! I thought I would tinker around with the ol' blog a bit and see if I couldn't make it a little snazzier and sassier. I use a basic blogger template, but I wanted a little bit more of me on here, so I made my own banner. I may do a few more things, but for now I am happy! Of course, all of this was done with major complaining from Zorro. In fact, he is under my desk right now making all kinds of complaining noises. He also just passed a large amount of gas and I may have to evacuate this room in just a minute. Nope. My man does not play around when he wants your attention! I think I should write a children's book and call it "Zorro, the Dog Who Can Fart at Will." I think my third graders would love it! I'll be right back, I need to run and get some fresh air.
Can y'all believe that tomorrow is New Year's Eve? I was thinking about this past year in the shower this morning and all that has changed. It has been a wild year, one that I am glad to say goodbye to! I have had some good things happen this year (Technology in Teaching Award, Teacher of the Year, starting this new blog and saying goodbye to my old one) and not so good things (my tummy, BUT it's better!). I have a feeling there are lots of folks out there who are ready for this year to end. With all that is happening in the economy and Middle East right now, I think we should just all take a moment and see peaceful thoughts out into the world. We do have some exciting changes to look forward to.. a new president and hopefully a more stable economy. So overall, I am hopeful about the new year.
Well, let me run. Zorro is taking aim again... I'll try and post later...
:) JKP
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Happy Hulu to You!
Hey Y'all....
Well, I may have too much time on my hands these days. Don't get me wrong, I love being on Winter Break... but I may have too much unstructured time on my hands. I mean, I almost bought a ShamWow from an infomercial today!
I have also been perusing the internets and have found the coolest things! For example, do you like to read, but don't have time to get to the library? tired of returning books late and then having to pay a fine? Then check out Booksfree.. it is an online book rental service. It's like Netflix, but for books! They also audiobooks too!
My other favorite thing that I have found over the holiday is a nifty little site called HULU. You may have heard of it, but it is this neat site that lets you catch up on all kinds of TV shows online. For example, I have fallen behind on a few shows like Lipstick Jungle and The Starter Wife. Well, whoop dee doo.. I can find all of my missed episodes on Hulu. It is fantastic and wait for it.. it is free!! So get those laptops ready for some show watching! Also, I plan on adding a Hulu widget to my blog so you can see my shows in queue!!
Alrighty, that's about it here. I've been DVD watching too. So far I have seen Eagle Eye, Traitor, Wanted, Kit Kittredge and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Up for tonight's viewing are The Dutchess and Ghost Town. Hey, it keeps me from watching the infomercials...and that Pasta n' More looks right up my alley!!!
:) JKP
Well, I may have too much time on my hands these days. Don't get me wrong, I love being on Winter Break... but I may have too much unstructured time on my hands. I mean, I almost bought a ShamWow from an infomercial today!
I have also been perusing the internets and have found the coolest things! For example, do you like to read, but don't have time to get to the library? tired of returning books late and then having to pay a fine? Then check out Booksfree.. it is an online book rental service. It's like Netflix, but for books! They also audiobooks too!
My other favorite thing that I have found over the holiday is a nifty little site called HULU. You may have heard of it, but it is this neat site that lets you catch up on all kinds of TV shows online. For example, I have fallen behind on a few shows like Lipstick Jungle and The Starter Wife. Well, whoop dee doo.. I can find all of my missed episodes on Hulu. It is fantastic and wait for it.. it is free!! So get those laptops ready for some show watching! Also, I plan on adding a Hulu widget to my blog so you can see my shows in queue!!
Alrighty, that's about it here. I've been DVD watching too. So far I have seen Eagle Eye, Traitor, Wanted, Kit Kittredge and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Up for tonight's viewing are The Dutchess and Ghost Town. Hey, it keeps me from watching the infomercials...and that Pasta n' More looks right up my alley!!!
:) JKP
Friday, December 26, 2008
Best Present EVER!
Hey Y'all!
I hope that each and every one of you had a great and Merry Christmas! I meant to post Christmas Eve, and I had a yummy recipe, but time just got away from me! I promise I will post the recipe later on though!
This Christmas, the fam and I didn't exchange gifts. Normally we draw names, etc. But, with the shape of the economy and the uncertainty of it all, we decided to forgo the gifts this year and just have a huge meal and be thankful for every one's company. We went ahead with the annual Thomy Ornament Exchange, but even that was subdued this year. However, Zoe and Zorro still managed to do some shopping behind our backs! I knew I shouldn't have shown Zorro and Zoe how to shop online! Here's Zorro below getting in on some Christmas fun!
A few months ago, you may remember the post where I wrote about almost electrocuting myself. It turns out, my favorite bracelet was the culprit of my almost electrocution in front of my kids at school. Here is a picture of the bracelet after it's unfortunate contact with an electrical current.
Well, I was really devastated to loose this piece of jewelry. I don't own alot of jewelry, so the few pieces I have, I wear alot. This bracelet is my absolute favorite and I have worn it daily for 7 years. It was a gift to myself and it is actually like a limb on my body. Since it's unfortunate demise, I have felt very undressed with out it. Nothing I wore even came close to replacing it. I visited Handpicked, where I originally bought the bracelet for a replacement, but they no longer made the bracelet or the medallion that was melted. So I have been pretty bummed about it.
Enter the elves, Zoe and Zorro. Look what they gave me for Christmas! No, it's not a Mini Cooper, it's better!
A new medallion! I actually cried! I can not tell you how happy I am to have my bracelet back! I went into Handpicked today, where the nice ladies fixed my bracelet for me. Now it is as good as new!
And last but not least... here's a pic of the doggies and me... sleeping off our Christmas fun!
I hope that each and every one of you had a great and Merry Christmas! I meant to post Christmas Eve, and I had a yummy recipe, but time just got away from me! I promise I will post the recipe later on though!
This Christmas, the fam and I didn't exchange gifts. Normally we draw names, etc. But, with the shape of the economy and the uncertainty of it all, we decided to forgo the gifts this year and just have a huge meal and be thankful for every one's company. We went ahead with the annual Thomy Ornament Exchange, but even that was subdued this year. However, Zoe and Zorro still managed to do some shopping behind our backs! I knew I shouldn't have shown Zorro and Zoe how to shop online! Here's Zorro below getting in on some Christmas fun!
A few months ago, you may remember the post where I wrote about almost electrocuting myself. It turns out, my favorite bracelet was the culprit of my almost electrocution in front of my kids at school. Here is a picture of the bracelet after it's unfortunate contact with an electrical current.
Well, I was really devastated to loose this piece of jewelry. I don't own alot of jewelry, so the few pieces I have, I wear alot. This bracelet is my absolute favorite and I have worn it daily for 7 years. It was a gift to myself and it is actually like a limb on my body. Since it's unfortunate demise, I have felt very undressed with out it. Nothing I wore even came close to replacing it. I visited Handpicked, where I originally bought the bracelet for a replacement, but they no longer made the bracelet or the medallion that was melted. So I have been pretty bummed about it.
Enter the elves, Zoe and Zorro. Look what they gave me for Christmas! No, it's not a Mini Cooper, it's better!
A new medallion! I actually cried! I can not tell you how happy I am to have my bracelet back! I went into Handpicked today, where the nice ladies fixed my bracelet for me. Now it is as good as new!
That is the best present I could have asked for! Zoe and Zorro got an extra treat for that!
And last but not least... here's a pic of the doggies and me... sleeping off our Christmas fun!
I am off to watch some movies, cuddle with the Z-man and chill!
:) JKP
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